Outlander Reading Challenge 2012

Outlander Reading ChallengeI am a huge fan of Diana Gabaldon’s OUTLANDER series and I keep hearing how people want to read this series, but never do.  Sadly, I haven’t read any of the Outlander novels since A Breath of Snow and Ashes came out in 2005.  The seventh novel, An Echo in the Bone, has already been out for a year and the eighth novel, Written in My Heart’s Own Blood, will be coming out soon (although not soon enough).  So I’m thinking I really need to get reacquainted with Jamie, Claire and all the other wonderful characters in the Outlander novels by starting from the beginning. I’m also thinking this is the perfect time for all everyone who keeps saying they want to read it, to finally picking them up.  Plus, for those who have read Outlander, but haven’t picked up the Lord John novels – yea, I’m including those too.  *grin*

So for 2012, I’m hosting the Outlander Reading Challenge.  Here are the details:

  1. The challenge will run from January 1st through December 31st.
  2. The goal is to read all 7 Outlander novels as well as all 4 Lord John novels and graphic novel, listed below, or as many as you can or want to do. (I don’t like inflexible reading challenges, so don’t stress out if you don’t think you’ll be able to get through them all).
  3. Once a month, we’ll get together and chat about where and what we’ve read (more details about this to come).
  4. After reading one of the novels, write your review and then come back to the main challenge page and add your link to Mr. Linky.  Make sure you include your name and which title you’ve read.
  5. Bloggers or Non-Bloggers alike are welcome.  You don’t have to have a site to participate. You can link up via Facebook, GoodReads or even Amazon if you’d like.

Monthly Chat:

During the last weekend of each month, let’s gather to discuss whichever novel we’re currently on.  I’m thinking, with 11 novels being focused on, a person could concentrate on doing one a month – so it makes perfect sense to discuss the books at the end of the month.  Plus, do we really need a reason to get together and talk books?  At the end of the month, I’ll post a genreal discussion post on Literary Escapism and we’ll convene right here on the site to discuss the month’s Gabaldon read.  I’ve posted the order below and I hope everyone is able to join in.  By posting the discussion threads here on LE, I figured this would make it easier for people who don’t want to log into Twitter or Facebook and I can make it so the post doesn’t get lost amid anything new happening.  Plus, people won’t have to be tied to their computers for any length of time and can come and go as one likes during the discussion.

Discussion Schedule:

  1. Janaury – Outlander – the discussion has been posted here.
  2. Feburary – Dragonfly in Amber – the discussion has been posted here.
  3. March – Lord John and the Private Matter – the discussion has been posted here.
  4. April – Voyager
  5. May – Lord John and the Brotherhood of the Blade
  6. June – Drums of Autumn
  7. July – Lord John and the Hand of Devils
  8. August – The Fiery Cross
  9. September – The Scottish Prisoner
  10. October – A Breath of Snow and Ashes
  11. November – An Echo in the Bone
  12. December – The Exile: An Outlander Graphic Novel

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Participants:

Want to join in? Sign in below, using the pattern in the #1 slot!

Reviews:

When you’re signing in with Mr. Linky, please leave either your name or your blog name followed by the Outlander title – i.e. Jackie (Dragonfly in Amber) or Literary Escapism (Lord John and the Hand of Devils).  I’ll add a new Mr. Linky for wrap-up posts later in the year.  Thank you.  Mr. Linky will become active on January 1, 2012.

27 Comments

  1. What a brilliant idea! I bought the first book in the outlander series and never got around to reading it. I am excited to join this group and chat-up at tje end of the month about it. I look forward to meeting fellow readers virtually.

  2. Also, this will be a very nice lead-up to Book 8 of the Outlander series (called Written in My Own Heart’s Blood), which should be published sometime in 2013. Perfect year to have this challenge!

    • @Cece/Katie – This is the perfect time to read the series! We’ll be able to talk about it together

      @Lindsey – That’s what I was thinking. I really need to do another re-read since I haven’t in awhile and by the time I get finished with Echo in the Bone, it should be perfect for Written in My Own Heart’s Blood.

      @Karen – Thanks!

  3. As a HUGE lover of this series, I plan to re-read (on audio cause Davina Porter is fabulous) An Echo in the Bone before Written In My Own Heart’s Blood comes out. I recently re-read the entire series, but have read Echo only once. I also plan to read The Scottish Prisoner too!

  4. PS: There are also a couple of novellas that are part of anthologies:
    Songs of Love and Death – A Leaf on the Wind of All Hallows
    Down These Strange Streets – LJ & the Plague of Zombies (Lord John)
    The Mad Scientist’s Guide to World Domination – The Space Between (2012)

  5. Thanks for hosting this challenge for 2012! I joined the 2011 Outlander challenge, and I failed miserably!! I didn’t even manage to read the first one, and I doubt I will have time before year-end. I’m looking forward to a fresh start and better success!

  6. Great challenge! I’m all signed up and raring to go :)

    It’s going to be a re-read for me (the latest one of MANY over the years) but I’m looking forward to a full catch up before I start THE SCOTTISH PRISONER :D

  7. I am in. I have not actually read the books – I listened to them on audio books from the library. What a good excuse to get the books! I have also been thinking about reading the series. Now to keep all my reading challenges straight!

    thanks for thinking of this!

  8. I saw this over on Outlandish Observations…I’m really interested in doing this; however, I’m not sure I’ll be able to keep up. But, I’ll do my best! I’m currently reading The Scottish Prisoner. I can’t wait to start Outlander all over again.

  9. I want to sign up for the Outlander Reading Challenge, but the sign-up box requires a URL. I don’t have a blog or any other kind of site so what do I do about this? Can I participate without a URL?

  10. Ahead of my time….this was my challenge for 2011 – listen to all seven of the Outlander series books so that I’d be ready for #8. I’m listening to An Echo in the Bone now but, with the holidays, I probably won’t finish it until next month. I don’t think I’m ready for another re-read.

    Nise mentioned the novella “A Leaf on the Wind of All Hallows” included in the anthology “Songs of Love and Death”. You won’t want to miss it.

  11. WOW, I came across this totally by accident. I LOVE the Outlander series and even purchased the 20th Anniversary one, but plan on NOT opening it. I’ve been meaning to re-read all of them before the next in line comes out and never have started. This will force me to do so. Looking forward to it.

  12. Jackie, thanks for the help. I do have a Goodreads account but it’s been ages since I did anything on there. Anyway, I am now officially signed up for the Challenge. I’ve read the series a number of times… and I will enjoy reading it again. Once upon a time, when there were only the first three books out, I felt I knew them backwards and forwards from reading them over and over again. It’s amazing how much my mind forgets as time goes on. And chatting after finishing each book will be lots of fun. I look forward to the insights other readers will have.

  13. I saw this over at A Novel Challenge and was so excited. I read the Outlander series up to Drums of Autumn when I was a teenager. I have wanted to re-visit them ever since and catch up on the three books I haven’t read yet (and the Lord John books too!).

    I think the best way for me will be to listen to the unabridged audio books of the Outlanders each night before bed. :-) I downloaded the first one today and am now 30 minutes in. Diana Gabaldon’s writing is every bit as good as I remember!

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